10 years ago

It was 10:00pm 10 years ago when my plane landed in Heathrow. Outside was dark, a few lights twinkling here and there as if something magical was about to happen. The entire experience felt surreal. And then I saw my darling man waiting for me, walked towards him, buried my happy face in his chest and everything became normal, just the way it should be. He took me back to his place. I stepped inside. There on a coffee table were the latest issues of Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire and a bouquet of beautiful English roses. I knew I was home.

Photo source: personal, taken by me 10 years ago

Back

Did you miss me? I certainly missed you. Leaving the blogosphere for a whole week felt like quitting cold turkey and I wasn’t prepared to do that. I confess I did read your comments whenever I had a chance and it was wonderful. And I did visit your blogs, too, but didn’t comment, otherwise my tired eyes would literally pop out.

Last week was productive and felt like a dreamy hallucination. It still does, from time to time, and I have to pinch myself just to calm down.

I’ve been to London where I felt like a tourist (yet again), but managed to find my way around and was migraine-free after an entire day of running places and talking intensely when required. I completed 98% of my annual paperwork, worked with clients, enjoyed a lovely dessert in a cosy cafe, tested new make-up products and read a beauty book.

Naturally, everything will eventually be documented here, so stay tuned.

It feels good to be back. And, although it’s hard to believe, it’s November already.

Photo source: Elle Spain April 2011

The way we wore: Burda Moden 1988

So have you heard of Burda Moden? It was the fashion magazine every Russian woman used as the most reliable reference when it came to style, whether it was wardrobe ideas, home deco, beauty or cooking. Burda came to us in 1987 like some exotic present from Western Germany, a glorious glossy dream from the country of plenty to the country of deficit (of everything). It was expensive (5 roubles an issue and an average salary was 150 roubles) and impossibly difficult to buy. It was literally a treasure.

A copy would move from household to household, usually wrapped in a plastic cover to prevent any damage. The recipes and beauty advice would be copied by hand, every diet – adjusted to suit the availability of the fresh produce, exercise routines – tried and tested (and God, did we dream of having those lycra leggings!) and the clothes… Well, the clothes part was relatively easy as many women could either sew or knit, so once a suitable fabric was found, the clothes could become a wearable reality.

We had a few of our own Burda issues and, as a little girl, I constantly created long Wish lists mainly of outfits and shoes hope that one day I will get a chance to wear something like this. I also prepared some of the foods and DIY’ed extensively.

When I came across a folder with pages torn out of Burda circa 1987-1990 I felt nostalgia sipping through my veins. I smiled for it brought sweet memories.

The blog seemed to be a perfect place for storing the scans, and sharing a few personal stories as well as fashion designs and articles from the past. I’ll start these new “The Way We Wore” series today and continues over the course of several months, a story or so every four weeks. Of course, my Burda speaks Russian, but I will translate some of the relevant parts for you. Let me know what you think of all this.

Issue 4. Autumn 1988

Colour of the season: emerald. Blouses: from elegant to sporty. Fashion for mums-to-be. 8 designs for the city. Recipes: fruit and vegetable preserves. Plus: Sweaters. Crafts.

(my mum actually had this blouse made later and we shared it)

A touch of emerald – just one touch is enough to make a simple houndstooth check coat look chic.

Wide trousers, loafers, emerald…

Feminine shapes, focus on waist, pastel colours and soft fabrics. A touch of burgundy or yellow. Must admit, that I’ve always loved these two looks.

Trend spotting: the tulip skirt

Red, military buttons, plaid…

Business woman: olive and mix of pattern, polka dots on a jacket, stripes on pencil skirt.

My favourite sweater out of the bunch from that issue. Notice the long silk plisse skirt.

Autumn ‘88 latest trends: feminine shapes in footwear (my mum actually had those boots), L’Oreal Elnett hairspray, Opium by Yves Saint Laurent – sensual, mysterious and incredibly feminine, fabric and leather colour dyes (never seen them, doubt will ever know what they were), Effekton hair colourants by Svoboda, Moscow, Byzance by Rochas perfume – delicate red rose, exquisite iris, carnation, vanilla and geranium combined with patchouli, sandalwood and musk, Pfaff sewing machine, new aftershave for men from Schwarzkopf.

Fashion world was talking about Paris fashion week, Spring 1989. Brief translation: Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Chanel, Lagerfeld, Montana, Mugler, Kenzo, Gaultier and other fashion designers showed their unique collections. Each consists of 30-50 looks. The models – only the best ones. Each collection is accompanied by music. The only exception is Yves Saint Laurent who prefers a silent performance. 3000-5000 people get to see it live. Sometimes fashion journalist and media have to see up to 10 shows a day. Their day begins early, at 10:30. From then the media pack has to rush from show to show that can take place anywhere – a night club, hotel and even palace. Shows never starts on time, so the crowd has to sit and wait for 30-60 minutes. The last show ends at 9 p.m. Then it’s time to take a break and grab a bite to eat. It costs between 30000 and 70 000 Deutsche marks to produce a fashion show, but it “must go on” no matter what.

So while the world is focusing on fashion in Paris, Russia hosts its very first beauty contest, “Miss Moscow ‘88” sponsored by Burda Moden. Masha Kalinina, the 16-year old student from Moscow, who won the title was then sent to Germany for a Burda Moden photoshoot, then continued working as a model and eventually moved to LA where she now lives.

To be continued…

Photo source: Vogue US October 1988

Cosy autumn basics

I wish I could waltz around my house in a pair of kitten heels looking like Bree Van de Kamp, but the truth is I don’t. Not even close. Instead I adore getting all warm and cosy in chunky cardigans and easy to wear tops and bottoms, especially in the morning when I have to rush downstairs to accompany Pumpkin in a garden for his morning call of nature and then – kitchen to prepare his breakfast (yes, the dog gets a home-cooked meal every day, lucky little pupster he is) and make coffee for me and Mr (who, by the way, is doing a great job taking my photos).

Once the hyperactivity is faded away like a morning fog, I tie a belt on my cardi into a bow and sit in front of my pc enjoying breakfast of baked Granny Smith apples mixed with goats yoghurt and a cup of black coffee. The wonderful sensation of yummy food inside and warm layers outside feels like a bliss.

My morning outfit is head to toe UNIQLO. I adore their basics and shop there whenever I need a seasonal top-up. My latest selection included a wonderfully warm and soft chunky wool and angora hooded cardigan, casual bottoms and several tops from the Heattech range because they work like magic and give you a wonderful (and much needed in winter) feeling of warmth while moulding around the body like a second skin. Pure indulgence that doesn’t cost the earth and makes every day just a little bit more special.

Photo source: personal

Outfit du jour: Miu Miu and chocolate flowers

Saturday was pretty uneventful. We had to stay at home and look after little Oscar who had a bit of trouble with his paw and couldn’t go outside for a proper doggy walk. Once the pupster was content, we headed off to the garden and played with the camera a little bit. 

This is one of my casual summer outfits that I really like. The Armand Basi silk blouse is very versatile and works nicely with jeans as a floaty top or can be tuck into pencil skirts for smart outfits. Diesel jeans are my favourite – I fell in love with Diesel a few years ago because they work well with curves and are super comfortable. The Miu Miu shoes were a lucky find back in 2008. I think the heel is absolutely gorgeous and the carved flowers remind me of the chocolate Cosmos. These flowers smell of chocolate! How amazing is that? They also have the most beautiful dark velvet petals that I can stare at forever.

Photo source: personal

Beauty: on my bathroom shelf

I must admit, I’m very minimalistic when it comes to skin care. My rules are simple: take care of the skin from within before turning all the attention to the army of beauty helpers and pick the ones containing no parabens, not a single drop.

Still, I do enjoy trying and discovering new things as well as keeping the old favourites nearby and since I now have a list different from the one I posted back in January, it’s time to write a post and share.

1. Korres Wild Rose 24-hour moisturiser for brightening and illuminating, SPF 6. This cream contains wild rose oil known for its ability to tone the skin, prevent wrinkles, heal scars and reduce or prevent inflammations. I absolutely love the rich texture that somehow feels really light on the skin and the fact that this cream comes in a glass jar and is free from parabens, mineral oils, silicone and propylene glycol. Priced at £19 for 40g jar that lasts for at least 2 months, it’s cost budget friendly. I use this cream at night and this one, also by Korres, in the morning.

2. Korres Evening Primrose Oil eye cream contains primrose oil, vitamin C and zinc that help to prevent and reduce first wrinkles as well as illuminate the skin around the eyes. The tub is HUGE for an eye cream and I only use a rice-size amount that’s enough for both eyes. RRP £22.50 for 30ml.

3. Korres Milk Proteins 3-in-1 cleanser. I bought this one to try and see how I get on with a creamy cleanser as I don’t often go for this texture and prefer gels. However, I’ve been very happy with it so far – it removes daily dirt, make-up (including eye make-up) and tones at the same time. It’s also a good product for those who prefer not to use water on their face as the cleanser can be left on. Personally, I remove the excess with a cotton wool and then rinse my face with warm water. RRP £14.00 for 200ml.

4. My Nuxe Masque Doux aux 3 Roses white clay mask also contains rose oil as well as 17 other active ingredients that purify the skin. Although I wasn’t too keen on its fragrance to begin with, the texture was incredibly delicate and creamy. It didn’t dry my skin out either, so I could use it all over my face, not just the T-zone. Frankly, I can’t fault any of the Nuxe products. I’ve used them for ages and am likely to switch back to the creams and cleansers at some point.

5. Margaret Dabbs Exfoliating Food Mousse scrub is one of the two products you would ever need to keep your feet baby soft and beautiful. I bought it back in spring and fell in love after the first use. You need a very small amount of the product that you massage into your feet before jumping in a shower. Use it once every few days and you’ll be the happiest (and pretties) girl ever. RRP £15.00 for 100ml.

6. Margaret Dabbs Hydrating food treatment is a delicate cream that you can use after the scrub or on its own on a daily basis. You need 1 pump to work on both feet, so the bottle lasts ages. I really love the light citronella fragrance, too. RRP £25.00 for 200ml. The best of the best of the best foot cream ever.

7. Balance Me Rose Otto body wash was a freebie that came with a September issue of Red magazine last week. It’s just lovely… It smells like a mixture of sweets and rose petals and feels really moisturising on the skin. RRP £8.00 for 125ml or just buy the magazine this month.

8. Sanctuary Body Scrub is gentle enough to be used daily. I bought it because it was affordable (£5.10 for 200ml), paraben-free and contained neroli oil that I adore. I was more than pleased with the product because not only it left my skin feeling really soft as if it was actually moisturised, but also because of its fragrance. It smells pretty much the same as Dune by Christian Dior, so if you use this perfume, you can easily combine the two.

9. Once everything was polished and moisturised, I prettify my tootsies with a touch of  OPI Clubbing Til Sunrise – one of the varnishes I use on a regular basis. It’s a beautiful orange shade that shimmers and looks absolutely beautiful with tan sandals.

10. My hair routine remained the same for months now. I got back to my Kevin Murphy Balancing Wash Shampoo as this one can be used daily (it smells of lavender, by the way), followed by Kevin Murphy Hydrate-Me Rinse Conditioner. I honestly cannot recommend Kevin Murphy products highly enough – they work, contain natural oils and extract and smell heavenly. I love every single one of them and buy professional size bottles these days, which ensures that I have plenty available and also saves some money.

And this is pretty much it. The only item I haven’t mentioned is the oil I use instead of a body moisturiser, but since I’ve talked about it in my January post, I decided not to include it here.

What about you? Any beauty discoveries or old favourites that you would never get tired of? Please do share.

Photo source: Elle Russia March 2008, personal

Awards and 7 things about me

I have recently received two special awards, including the Best Blog Awards from from Alyssa and Stylish Blogger Award from Joy. Thank you so much, girls! I also want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who’s been visiting my little blog, followed, took time to leave a comment or send an email – you make me smile and add lots of little special moments to my life every day. Thank you!

 

According to the rules I must mention the person who gave me the award, tell you seven things about me, complete a “My Favourites” list and nominate seven other blogs. The nominees will have to do to the same.

Favourite colour: green, but I also love orange, blue and dusty rose

Favourite song: anything by Carla Bruni

Favourite dessert: honey torte (it’s a Russian recipe and I will definitely share it with you some time in autumn)

Biggest pet peeve: clothes that are a size too small

When you are upset, you: cry, cuddle with Oscar

Favourite pet: English cocker spaniel (Oscar, the pupster)

Black or White: white

Biggest fear: disability

Best feature: brain

Everyday attitude: being a little bit in love

What is perfection? Something that takes our breath away

Guilty pleasure: shopping for shoes, books and scented candles

7 things about me

A few months ago I’ve become a vegetarian. At the moment I am a happy lacto-ovo veggie and enjoying the way I feel and look – my skin got so much better!

I’ve been using the same perfume for the last 5 years or so. It’s my comfort blanket and the fragrance is like a part of me now.

If I were to choose a very special ball gown, I’d want to have this Dolce&Gabbana dress from their Spring 2009 Ready-t0-Wear collection. This is my fairy-tale dress.

Sometimes I really want to dye my hair into a gorgeous shade of autumn red. I was a redhead once and loved it, but then decided to go back to my natural colour and I guess, at the end nature knows best…

My favourite artists are Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres and Dali. Ingres' works are incredible and I think I was drawn to his art because the paintings looked so alive and it was hard to believe that somebody is so talented to be able to paint like that.

Louise de Broglie Countess d'Haussonville

Dali awakes something inside me. I was lucky enough to see some of his original works and was surprised how emotional and intense this experience was!

Apparition of the face of Aphrodite of Cnidus

We paid more for the shoes I wore on my wedding day than for the entire wedding itself.

I watched “The Devil Wears Prada ” at least 10 times. And I read the book, too. I am watching the movie again right now while typing this.

Now I would like to pass these awards to the following blogs, in no particular order:

• Heel in Mint
• Artfully Awear
• Decor is like butter
• Mikko Tyllinen’s Art Blog
• Mrs Bossa Does the Do
• Ocean’s Dreams
• Fashion is my H2O
• Latte Lisa

Photo source: Vogue Spain July 2011, Tush 2007, Elle Czech Republic 2010, Vogue China July 2009, Marie Claire US 2010, scan from Art Work of Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, google  images, Vogue Russia April 2011, The Devil Wears Prada Promo